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March 25, 2014

If you have one, tablets and iPads are a fabulous way to read pattern instructions while you are sewing a new pattern. Ros at Sew Delicious has a great tutorial to help you save your pattern files to your iPad. It's an awesome way to download your new Perfect Pattern Parcel files. It saves money not printing extra pages and allows you access to large, well lit instructions with pictures.

The trouble is iPads can't download or open zip files. Many indie designers use zip files for their patterns because they include extras, like pattern pieces formatted to be printed at commercial copy centers on large paper. Combined together these files can become quite large and designers zip them up so they can be digitally transported as smaller files.

So how the hell do I get them to my iPad?

Before you attempt to download your pattern files, go to the iTunes store. You want to download the application called iZip By ComcSoft. It is a free app.

Once you've downloaded iZip you can then go to your Pattern Parcel email, or log into your Pattern Parcel account to open your sewing patterns. You should be able to click the links to download the entirety of your Parcel or pick and choose which patterns you want just for now.

The iZip application will open your zipped folder and allow you to choose which pattern file you need for sewing. In the black bar underneath the pattern preview, you can choose "Open with" to open the sewing pattern instructions in either iBooks or Kindle Reader.

March 21, 2014

By the time you are reading this post, there will be less than twelve hours left to purchase your own copy of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #1. Never again will you be able to choose your own price (and support charity) for these patterns:

If you have totally fluffed up and forgot to get it, and your son was smearing his peanut butter sandwich on the couch that day and your boss made you do work instead of shopping, I totally understand. Go get yourself your copy now before you forget. Don't worry. I'll be here when you get back.

I would very much like to thank these incredibly talented and amazingly awesome group of women. I would like to introduce you to (clockwise from top left) Dixie of Dixie DIY, Kristiann of Victory Patterns, Mari of Seamster Patterns, Sara of Sew Sweetness and Amanda of Kitschy Coo.

If these ladies had not believed in us and taken the leap of faith, Perfect Pattern Parcel would have never happened. Luckily, magic happened and it all came together. The outpouring of support that we have seen for the independent pattern designer over the past two weeks has been...I can't even put a word to it. Awesome. Amazing. Outstanding. Inspiring. Sparkletastic. Did I say Amazing?

Your generosity has also generated well over $2,000 so far for the charity Donorschoose.org. Mind blown. You guys just rock! Your donations will enrich the lives of children whose education is in need. You have just brightened the future! I am so proud.

And then there are these freakin' awesomesauce, totally amazing bloggers....

These ladies' talent and creativity leaves me in awe. Just jaw hanging open, almost going to drool, oh my God, Ethel are you seeing this, kind of awe. Seriously. Every damn day you ladies raised the bar. You thrilled me and excited me. I stomped my feet and clapped my hands and was like, WOW! I can not thank you all enough. I owe you all a round of drinks and if I am ever in your neighborhood, please let me know. We will have a good ole time. Thank you. (bows head)

If you need closer looks at these fabulous blogger's garments for inspiration while you are making your own from the Parcel #1 patterns, you can find them all in our Perfect Pattern Parcel pinterest board. Take some time to wander the halls of their sites. They're a very talented bunch.

OH, Make sure you have entered the HUGE giveaway too! (Did you sign up for the PPP Newsletter? Because, you know, Perfect Pattern Parcel #2 is coming SOON, and you'll be the first to know!)a Rafflecopter giveaway

March 19, 2014

BEWARE: Something is in the water. I think everyone I know is giving birth, or announcing that they are pregnant this month. My newsfeeds are chock full of babies, babies, babies. Better them than me. ;)

The best part of everyone being pregnant or a new momma is that I get to make them presents! Anything itty bitty and weentsy is just so damn adorable, no? Two of my blogger buddies, Lacy of Living on Love, and Carla of Small + Friendly, are about to give birth any day now and a few of us are hosting an online baby shower for them.

One of my favorite baby shower gifts to give are these Quilted Burp Cloth Cotton Diapers. I quilted a handful of them as I was waiting for my son to be born and fell in love. Not only are the super adorable, but they have a thousand uses. They're like a Swiss Army Knife for mothers. (Do they make those?) These burp cloth cotton diapers can be used for:

Three years later, we're still using ours. They go through the washer and dryer, the absorb most all bodily fluids and are super soft on baby's skin. The cotton cloth diapers I use are from India and made with unbleached cotton. These twill weave prefolds are tough on wear, but have such a nice texture. You must prewash and dry your cotton cloth diapers. The will shrink up 5-10%, but more importantly it softens them up to perfection.

Trim your scraps up so that they are all 4 inches wide and varying lengths. Stitch them all together in a long piece that is 4 inches wide. Press your seams open. Cut lengths of your scraps so that they are 13 inches long (or about 1 inch longer than the length of your cloth diaper.)

Press both long edges of your strips under by 1/4 inch. Pin to the middle of your cotton cloth diapers. Fold under and pin both short edges so that it fits your cloth diaper length (they aren't usually uniform.) Quilt your pieces scraps with your sewing machine making sure you top stitch along the entire edge. Clip threads. Admire. Wrap those babies up and mail them out!

I sure hope Lacy and Carla
love them! I wish you both speedy and painless deliveries. Can't wait to see the pictures of your little ones, ladies.

March 14, 2014

We chose DonorsChoose.org as our charity to support with Perfect Pattern Parcel for some very specific reasons. We wanted a charity that would have a direct and immediate impact. We wanted to not only help in the present, but also one that would develop a better future. DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that allows teachers across America to post classroom projects on their site in the effort to get them funded. Donors on the website can choose which projects they would like to contribute to and you can donate as little or as much as you would like. It's crowd sourcing for teachers. I strongly encourage you to check it out.

Danny, Rachael and I are so thrilled to tell you that through your generosity, Parcel #1 has already generated over $1,200 for DonorsChoose.org. That's HUGE! We can't thank you enough. Pat yourselves on the back!

Today I've invited an old school friend of Danny's, Natasha, to share with us her experiences as a teacher using DonorsChoose.org. Natasha has been teaching for 10 years. She teaches early childhood special education (3 to 5 years old) in Southern California.

Why did you first use Donor's Choose?
I heard about Donorschoose.org from a fellow teacher. Our schools are in really bad shape financially. We only get about $150 to pay for EVERYTHING the whole year. My students are too young to have text books, so all learning must be done with toys, manipulatives, and creative play furniture. Everything I had was used or damaged, and I didn't have many of the supplies and basic necessities needed to work with young students. My colleague had success with Donorschoose.org, so I decided to try it too.

What was the first classroom project you funded with Donor's Choose?
The first project I had funded was a sand table, a sensory table, and sensory toys from Lakeshore Learning. We didn't have any sensory materials at the time and children with Autism REALLY need to practice with all sorts of tactile media.

What was the out come of that project with Donor's Choose? Were you fully funded?
I was fully funded thanks to generous donors and organizations. Due to getting that project funded, I was able to submit requests for additional projects.

How did your classroom benefit from the Donor's Choose project?
I was able to create a sensory area that could change and evolve with the different classroom themes(Ex:use beans and seeds in the tables during our gardening unit, wet sand to make tracks with tires and cars during our transportation unit, make goop/snow/foam centers to practice touching wet/sticky textures). All these different activities helped desensitize the students I have with severe sensory issues and provided a fun place to go for everyone else.

Have you funded other projects with Donor's Choose? Do you have a current project waiting to be funded?
My classroom has and continues to benefit from not only the first project I had funded, but from all the projects I've been able to fund over the past 6 years. We now have a sensory center, science materials, books, a listening center, art supplies, math and language activities, and so much more thanks to this wonderful organization.I almost always have a project up on the website. I currently have a project to get phonics materials that involve all of the senses to aid in learning. I cannot be more clear that I would have NONE of these items without this organization. I simply do not know what I would have done if I didn't have opportunities to ask for assistance from wonderfully generous people looking to help those in need. It has changed the lives of so many students, and has made me an inspired, energetic, and motivated teacher.

I can't thank you enough, Natasha, for sharing your experiences with us!

**All these photos are of some of the things Natasha has funded through Donorschoose.org: Cube chairs, rug, books,dramatic play furniture, fine motor toys, listening center materials, ipod & player,bean bag chairs, and a classroom camera!

March 7, 2014

I come to you now like a marathon runner crossed a finish line. Exhausted, dirty, tired. Only to realize that this line is yet another starting line. After months of work, I am so so proud to reveal to you... Perfect Pattern Parcel #1.

At Perfect Pattern Parcel, we believe in supporting independent pattern designers. Independent designers create patterns that are innovative, imaginative and in line with current style trends. It’s our opinion that indie patterns are just, well, better than big box patterns, and we’re pretty sure you, our customers, think so too. So, we’re going to things a little bit different. We're going to allow you to show your support for independent designers in naming your price for Pattern Parcel #1.

That’s right. You read that correctly.

We’re going to let our customers name their own price.

True story.

You will also have the chance to contribute a portion of your Pattern Parcel price to the charity Donors Choose, an amazing organization that matches up the needs of teachers and their students for specific projects with willing donors. The funds raised from each Pattern Parcel sale will go to help K-12 students in minimizing educational inequality and encourage a community where children have the tools and experiences necessary for an excellent education.

And now, before you head over to the Perfect Pattern Parcel #1 site to see all that we have been working on for the past few months, I have been dying to show you this video: the Pattern Parcel #1 Fashion Show. Enjoy!

Now, head on over to Perfect Pattern Parcel #1 and see what the hubbub is all about. I've got to go get a fresh cup of coffee. See you there! (Click this button to be teleported to Pattern Parcel now.) Oh, hey, and Happy Friday too!